What is gambling and how is it different from Skill Games under Indian laws?

Gambling or gaming has been defined by the Supreme Court in 1996 as betting and wagering on games of chance only. The Supreme Court in this judgment specifically excludes games of skill, irrespective of whether they are played for money or not, from the definition of gambling. The exact quote from the 1996 judgment is as follows:

"The expression 'gaming' in the two Acts has to be interpreted in the light of the law laid-down by this Court in the two1957 cases, wherein it has been authoritatively held that a competition which substantially depends on skill is not gambling. Gaming is the act or practice of gambling on a game of chance. It is staking on chance where chance is the controlling factor. 'Gaming' in the two Acts would, therefore, mean wagering or betting on games of chance. It would not include games of skill like horse racing"

Further, the Public Gambling Act, which is the central law on gambling and most subsequent state laws on the subject substantially state that "nothing in this Act shall apply to games of mere skill wherever played". This is also mentioned in the 1996 Supreme Court judgment with regards Tamil Nadu and Madras laws.

"In any case...Section 11 of the Gaming Act specifically saves the games of mere skill from the penal provisions of the two Acts."

What is a game of skill under Indian laws?

Supreme Court of India in 1996 defined a game of mere skill as follows:

The competitions where success depends on substantial degree of skill are not "gambling" andDespite there being an element of chance if a game is preponderantly a game of skill it would nevertheless be a game of "mere skill".

We, therefore, hold that the expression "mere skill" would mean substantial degree or preponderance of skill.

Is rummy a game of skill?

The 1968 Supreme Court ruling that declared rummy to be a game of skill:

"Rummy, on the other hand, requires certain amount of skill because the fall of the cards has to be memorised and the building up of Rummy requires considerable skill in holding and discarding cards. We cannot, therefore, say that the game of Rummy is a game of entire chance. It is mainly and preponderantly a game of skill. The chance in Rummy is of the same character as the chance in a deal at a game of bridge."

Further, the Supreme Court in 1996 also stated

"A game of skill, on the other hand - although the element of chance necessarily cannot be entirely eliminated --is one in which success depends principally upon the superior knowledge, training, attention, experience and adroitness of the player. Golf, chess and even Rummy are considered to be games of skill. The Courts have reasoned that there are few games, if any, which consist purely of chance or skill, and as such a game of chance is one in which the element of chance predominates over the element of skill, and a game of skill is one in which the element of skill predominates over the element of chance. It is the dominant element --"skill" or "chance" -- which determines the character of the game."

Safe and Fair Online Games

One of the concerns in online games is the guarantee of fair gameplay. To assure the integrity of our Rummy Bus games, the trusted Random Number Generator (RNG) is always used to determine the cards that are given. In each game, RNG is utilized to ensure compliance with all required standards.

Our games are available for both free and cash prizes. Rummy is a game of skill and doesn’t come under gambling, as stated by the Honorable Supreme Court of India. It’s completely legal to play rummy for cash.

Don’t wait any further. Join India’s largest Rummy website, rummybus and play the game that is thrilling, refreshing and rewarding all at the same time.

Do games of skill enjoy any other protection legally?

Yes, in 1957 the Supreme Court stated that prize competitions which involve substantial skill are business activities that are protected under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India.

Is it legal to play rummy for cash on www.rummybus.com?

The various Supreme Court rulings and the Gaming Acts of India imply the following:

Gaming or gambling means betting and wagering on games of chance.Playing games of skill for cash does not constitute gambling.Games of skill are exempt from the penal provisions of most gambling acts.Rummy is a game of skill.

So yes, it is perfectly legal to play rummy for cash on rummybus.in as long as you are not playing from the states of Assam, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Sikkim, Nagaland . In these states the Gaming Laws are less clear. As we get more clarity on the laws in these states, we might reconsider offering our services to residents of these states as well.

You may only use the Services to Play Cash Games (as defined below) if you are 18 years of age or over. Access to our Services or any part thereof may be restricted by us from time to time in our sole decision. You confirm that you are not accessing the Services to play Cash Games from:-

Outside India or from the States of Assam, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and Nagaland in India for accessing www.rummybus.com and the rummybus App. Outside India or from the States of Assam, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and Nagaland in India for accessing www.rummybus.com and the rummybus App is strictly prohibited and illegal. User shall be held solely responsible for the illegal access to the same if any.